Flying machine



Feb. 6, 1923.

. I L i lrafl fifg 0. PIERING FLYING MACHINE.

FILED OCT. 3. 1921 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 OTTO PIERING, OF EICH, GERMANY.

FLYING MACHINE.

Application filed October 3, 1921. Serial No. 505,122i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OT'ro PIERING, a German citizen, residing at Eich, Saxony, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying Machines, of which the following is specification;

The subject of the present invention is a flying machine, which is actuated entirely by the muscular power of the person seated therein, without the employment of any motor driving force. To effect this object, movable wings are employed, which are moved in a manner imitative of the flight of birds, in

such a manner that the down stroke of the wings has the effect of raising and at the same time causing a forward motion.

It may be remarked, that the arrangement of movable wings in imitation of the flight of birds has already previously been tried. In the devices with which we are familiar of this kind, the wings however exercised not only a propulsive action on the flying machine, but served also as supporting surfaces. Apart from the consideration that they were not able rightly to fulfill the latter purpose on account of the requisite turning around the longitudinal axis when the movement of the Wings took place, the wings for this very reason are not adapted to act as supporting surfaces, as they would have to be made too large and would as a result call for too much force in their manipulation. The strength of the person seated therein would not be equal to the effort required.

For this reason, the movable wings in accordance with the present invention are combined with one or several immovable supporting planes, which are in a position to carry the weight, while the wings are used entirely for the purpose of propulsion.

In order to render the movement of the wings easier, and to impart to the wings the requisite revolution around the longitudinal axis, these are jointed to a movable frame, which by'means of a lever drive actuated by foot efiects pendulum motions around a horizontal axis.

The drawing illustrates a form of construction of the subject of the invention, and shows Fig. 1 a plan of the flying machine.

Fig. 2 a rear view of the same.

Fig. 3 a front view of the disposition of the wings. 1

Fig. 4 the under part of the supporting frame, together with the foot lever driving sides the surface is bent ward direction Fig. 2. Underneath this gear for the movable frame, shown in side view, and

F g. 5 a ground plan of the same, showing a wing on one side only broken off.

The fixed supporting plane a is as an example shown as pentagonal, and is extended as Wlll be seen from F iguresl and 2. On both or inclined in an upsupporting plane are attached the two movable wings 7), which have an irregular tetragonal shape and are curved upwards. The frame of the wings or their edges are extended towards the inside, so as to form a triangle 0 which is quite rigid. To these triangular pieces, preferably on the lower side, there are attached the handles d, in such a manner that the. aviator, who in Figures 2 and 4 is indicated by dotted lines. 1s 1n a position to control the wings. He occupies a frame or fitting attached to the supporting plane a. This may be furnished with either a saddle or a seat f, adapted for the purpose Figure 4.

Each of the two wings Z) is fitted with three joints, 9', it, and 2', which allow it to be moved in all directions; these are ball joints. The joints indicated by z' are advantageously provided with a check, in such a manner that the guide A: can only form an angle with the wing 7) with an apex pointing upwards, and this within the checking guides, which, as will be seen from Figure 3, are provided for both extreme po sitions of the wings. By this means a wrong position of the wings is rendered impossible. The extended longitudinal axis Z of the wing is connected with the joint 7, while between the joints 2' and h the guide is, already referred to, is placed.

In order to cause the wings when making a stroke to effect a revolution around a longitudinal axis, so that they assume a position pointing upwards, the joints 9 and It do not rest direct on the supporting frame 6, but on a right angled frame m, which is attached by means of a pin a to the frame, so that it is free to revolve. The revolution of the wings referred to or the movement of the frame m can with advantage be effected by means of a foot driven mechanism, so that an important part of the work of operating the machine is done by the legs, and flight is by such a means For this purpose, at the lower end of the frame m a movable rod 0 is provided, which rendered easier.

is attached to a rod 30 by means of a joint. To the lower end of the latter, as well as to one or two rods 9, there are attached plates 1 which are removable, on which the feet can be placed. The motion of this connection must however be within a limited space, so that the system of rods 9, r, p, 0, do not swing excessively, but on the application of pressure of the foot forward on the plate 1', the requisite revolution of the frame on into the position indicated in Figure 4 by the dot ted lines ss will be effected. This may be done in such a manner that the rods 77 and q have only a very slight play in the openings of the plate 1', Figure 4.

In place of the system of levers described above, a rigid extension in a downward direction may be made to the frame a, to the end of which there may be attached a foot lever, movably actuated in case of need by a spring, which is connected by means of a cable or similar device with the rear part of the frame m.

The following is a description of the manner in which the flying machine above described is to be employed and operated The aviator seizes both the wings with his hands, for which the handgrips (Z are pro vided. The simple drawing in of the arms,

is sufficient to produce a downward stroke of the wings, while by the stretching out of the arms an upward stroke is effected F igure 3. As has been already stated, the latter is rendered easier by the application of mechanism actuated by the feet, which is effected by pressure on the front'part of the plate 1' of the frame m in the position indicated by the dotted lines s-s, by means of which the wings are raised and lowered with their edges to the front. This has the natural effect of reducing to a minimum the resistance to the upward stroke.

The downward stroke of the wings has the effect of both lifting and driving forward.

The lifting pressure is effected directly by means of the arms and body of the aviator, and further by means of the axes and pins 11, on the supporting frame, and the rigid planes (1. The upward stroke, combined with the turning of the wings, should in consequence of the inclined position of the planes, be amply sufficient to create the neces sary current of air.

The steering of the. flying machine can be effected in a simple manner by the management of the strokes of the wings. so that in like manner to that of a rudder an unequal activity of the two wings on either one side or the other produces a movement sideways.

The flying machine is constructed in such a manner that it can be easily taken apart, so as to facilitate its transport. If desired a motor suitable for driving or causing the movement of the wings can be fitted.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. A flying machine comprising a main frame, a plurality of rigid sup-porting planes to carry the weight and wings movably connected to the machine for propelling the machine, the connections of each wing to the fran'ie comprising a plurality of joints which permit freedom of motion in all directions including up and down movement as well as oscillation about its axis, one joint of each wing connection on one side of the wing axis being directly attached to the frame while the other is on the opposite side of the axis and is connected to the frame indirectly by means of a link.

2. A flying machine comprising a main frame, a plurality of rigid supporting planes to carry the weight and wings movably connected to the machine for propelling the machine, the connections of each wing to the frame comprising a plurality of joints which permit freedom of motion in all direct-ions including up and down movement as well as oscillatiton about its axis, one joint of each wing connection on one side of the wing axis being directly attached to the frame, while the other is on the opposite side of the axis and is connected to the frame indirectly by means of a link, and a swinging frame mounted on the main frame and carrying the wings, which swinging frame is connected with a foot driven mechanism.

In testimony whereof I aflix m signature.

DR. OTTO P ERING. 

